06/04/2026
Monthly payment is the new zestimate!
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Have you noticed in your “sofa surfing” that Zillow is now hitting buyers with their estimated monthly payment before you even have a chance to glance at the Zestimate? It can be alarming!
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Yes, rates are low “over the course of history” but we’re still in the days of comparing to the sub 3 rates some buyers right now are used to. This hike is becoming a huge roadblock, mainly mentally, for a lot of buyers and no doubt a challenge when it comes to marketing your home.
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So, as you consider your list price it’s time to consider what a buyer will be paying per month to live in your home. No, you can’t change their rate or down payment for the better - but you CAN prep the home for the market in a way that makes it more attractive at that price.
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Walking into a home and having a buyer think “wow, all I have to do is move in!” Is certainly more appealing at the payment they are seeing, whether it’s accurate or not, than having a buyer see that payment and walk in saying “well, I’ll need to budget for this and that”
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Listing homes is a strategy and one we don’t take lightly. We would rather be honest and lose the business than see you sit on the market wishing you’d done the work up front. There’s only one chance to make a first impression!
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